His English is excellent. But his words come out thick and halting.
He lets out a weary sigh as if sensing my observation. “Speaking with the host’s voice is the hardest part of all. I tried to possess one of the Japanese attendants when I first saw your mother.”
Jae-Hyun’s gaze becomes wistful at his mention of my mother. “She was so lovely, like a waterlily with human skin. But she was also lonely. She cried after your father’s visits. He blamed her for not getting pregnant, you see. And he grew angrier and became rougher with her as the years stretched on without any heirs. It was no way to treat a flower as fragile as your mother. But Kazuo was such an arrogant husband. His original wife had been torn from him, so he believed everyone else should share in his misery, including his innocent second bride. He often ignored her protests when he took her. He would force her into compliance, bruising her beautiful skin, and damaging her soul. Then he would return to his mistress in the city, leaving her alone in the country home, confused and broken. The living servants were too scared to offer her any comfort. They simply witnessed the abuse and cleaned up around her until she finished crying. I merely wanted to talk to your mother that first time I took a host to make contact. I wished to console her after his visit. But the conversation did not go well.”
A fleeting smile crosses Jae-Hyun’s lips. “I sounded very strange to her. And I am afraid she only stopped crying because she was concerned her attendant had suffered a stroke. After that embarrassing exchange, I found taking a Korean host was the easiest way to explain my stilted and halting speech. And after that body’s death at your father’s hand, I found another Korean host. An older car designer who secretly drew manhwa at night as opposed to learning Japanese as he ought. He came to the house to show your father the latest specs on a new line of Nakamura cars. His thick accent so repelled Kazuo that he fired him on the spot. He was perfect.”
Perfect…
The ghost’s version of the story makes my blood boil.
“So you left my mother to wander our home as a ghost while you went on with your life inside your perfect host.”
Norio appears very, very confused. But Kristal regards Jae-Hyun, her eyes filled with reproach. “Is that true? After the body you possessed was killed, you came here and just left Hayato’s mother back in Japan?”
Despite his centuries-old age, the ghost has the decency to look ashamed.
He addresses Kristal but looks at me as he answers, “I was ever the brave warrior when I was among the living. But what your mother became after her death… a wraith wandering the grounds, weeping for vengeance, I could not withstand it. It was all my fault that she met her death so early. The caretaker’s wife was understandably enraged by our affair. Even more tragically, she believed your father when he said he would protect her if she did his dirty work. Of course, Kazuo had her and her husband killed for the supposed crime of murdering his wife. And your mother was forever doomed to wander without justice. I could not help her in that state. So I left. I had hoped my doing so would ease her suffering.”
“It didn’t,” I answer bluntly. “She continued to wander for years after that, shrieking for justice so loudly, I could no longer bear to visit our factory home. I did not know back then that there was a way to help ghosts in her position. So she was stuck in that state until my father’s death by one of his many victims.”
My tone is reproachful, but Jae-Hyun’s face lights up at my words. “So she is free? She has crossed over to the next realm?”
I frown, not wanting to please him. But I can think of no other answer to his question but, “Yes, she crossed over with no thanks to you.”
However, my tone doesn’t seem to matter. Jae-Hyun’s eyes fill with tears. And in the next instant, he rises from the ground. He simply lifts off the floor without bending his legs or seeming to exert any physical effort.
Kristal gasps, and Norio mutters in Japanese behind me.
“My boy! Thank you for this news!” Jae-Hyun booms, his voice much stronger than before. “Thank you for freeing the love of my life.”
I have no idea how to answer that. But Jae-Hyun doesn’t seem to expect an answer from me. After saying that, he turns his attention to Kristal. She is still sitting on the floor, taking in the many reveals from our conversation.
Despite his old age, Jae-Hyun looks very much like a hale samurai, extending his hand to a maiden when he reaches out to help her up off the floor.
“You see, you did not ruin anything,” Jae-Hyun tells her with good cheer. “In fact, you made all my dreams come true. Thank you, Kristal. You are a better daughter than I ever could have wished for or deserved.”
Kristal shakes her head mutely. I suspect that she is at a loss for words.
But Jae-Hyun does not linger long with her either. He turns to Norio. “And as for you, my oldest son...”
Norio lets out a loud “Eh!” and jumps up, knocking his chair backward when instead of walking, the ghost lifts off the ground and floats over to him.
The samurai seems amused by Norio’s reaction. “My logical son, who never questioned why the caretaker left him oranges and other treats. Do you believe your brother now?”
Norio nods slowly. And our ghost father pats him fondly on the cheek. “Good, good. How is your life now? Did you marry as you wanted, or did Kazuo get his way in that as his own father did with him?”
Norio seems too stunned to answer, so I reply for him.
“He is the one who orchestrated our father’s death,” I tell our ghost father. “Norio is very happily married now with the family he fought for until my father’s end.”
Again, I am not trying to please Jae-Hyun. But I am very proud of my brother for his bravery and everything he did to free us from our father’s iron fist. And for some reason, I want this ghost to be proud of him too.
“You fill my heart with pride, oldest son. Perhaps the next time you are in Japan, you will find my grave and clean it? I would also be very honored if you said a prayer.”
At first, Norio says nothing. I wonder if he will forever remain too stunned to speak.
But then he asks, “Is it really you? Our true father?”
Our ghost father bows in grave acknowledgment. “I am sorry for not having been a better father to you. If I could have been, I would have been. For you both have made me very proud.”
“I am sorry, too,” Norio answers. “I know it is not proper, but I have been married to an American for too long. I must do this…”
That is the only warning Jae-Hyun receives before Norio enfolds him in his arms. Jae-Hyun freezes as if he does not know what to do. But then he hugs his oldest son back just as tight. Perhaps even tighter.
After they pull back from their embrace, Jae-Hyun turns toward me. At first, I think he will hug me when he reaches out, and I am not sure how I will receive that. But he simply places a firm hand on my back and pushes until I walk forward.
Toward Kristal.
She stares wide-eyed at us both when we stop in front of her.
“Kristal, I am aware that my son is only slightly more deserving than me to have the grace of your presence in his life,” he tells her, his voice even more solemn and grave than when he was talking with Norio. “But if you would do him the honor, I would like to offer you his hand in marriage.”